He could have kept in contact more, fought for their relationship, but the feelings Jack tackled now weren’t on him.
“Then here my brother comes, finally coming home for Christmas, descending down from his successful company and gracing us mortals with his presence, and everybody wants to lose their minds about it. Then he walks in with a fiancée and I find out you’re my scent-match, too. It felt like just another way I was in his shadow.”
“It’s not a competition, Jack. My relationship with Cole has nothing to do with my possible relationship with you.”
He winced at the wordpossible.
“I’m going to get to know you all individually,” I said softly, “but you can’t live your entire life, our life together, trying to compete with Cole. It’s a losing battle, and it’s one-sided.”
Maybe it wasn’t the most gentle approach, but it was honest.
He didn’t look at me, staring hard at the screen as my words hit their target.
“I think you and Cole need to sit down and talk. Decide what you want, otherwise…” I met his eyes. “I’m not sure this can work out between us.”
Cole
My entire life had been turned upside down in a matter of days. It seemed like everything was now categorized into two eras:before Aspenandafter.
Everything before seemed dull. Even when she walked out of the room to go talk to Jack, I felt like she’d taken a piece of me with her.
It went beyond how fucking good she felt earlier and how sexy she was. There was so much to this woman. She was complex, chaotic, and perfect. She was honest to a fault and didn’t bother to hide how she felt. Then there are those little moments she soaked in that filled her with so much joy, she radiated it.
She had lit up at the mention of antique stores and thrift stores. Found joy in road trips and snacks. Loved singing along to the songs in the car and took in this town like it was something truly special.
Her zest for life was contagious and giving my own life a new and much needed perspective.
I was desperate to know everything about her. To find out all about her past and what shaped her to be the person she is now.
Aspen was perfect and so strong, and all I wanted to do was make her happy.
“I know that look,” my mother said knowingly.
I cast her a dry glare, which only made her chuckle.
“You knew I was engaged to her, of course you recognize the look,” I muttered.
“It’s just nice to know you made a good choice. And remember, just because it got complicated doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.”
“You would know all about complicated,” I said.
She all but rolled her eyes.
“You know, that’s the funny thing about being in a pack. No one has to understand your relationship but you. Yes, my pack is gone a lot, but I am afiercelyindependent omega. They would have driven me insane being here all year round. And just because they’re gone doesn’t mean I don’t talk to them constantly.” She shuddered at the mere thought of my fathers hovering.
“You’re right,” I conceded, ducking my head. It wasn’t the first time we’ve had this conversation. I’d never truly understood her relationship with my fathers, and, apparently, there was some resentment there of my own.
North came back and sat down just as my mother dabbed her mouth with her napkin and stood.
“I think I’m going to retire for the night while you boys work this whole pack ordeal out.” She looked from one of us to the next. “And I’ll give the same speech to Jack, but you do right by that girl. She is very sweet, and I like her. Figure out whatever this is between you quickly. You don’t want to lose anopportunity because you were too stubborn to open your mouths and talk to each other.”
She cut her eyes at me. “You and your brother have needed this conversation for many years.”
I didn’t respond, but she was right. The relationship I had with my brother had turned sour around the time I started this company. Hell… before. He’d always hated any achievement I had like it was a personal insult.
North and I didn’t say anything as she left. He finished his meal in silence before setting his fork aside.
He was trying to seem unbothered, but his eyes kept flicking toward the doorway.
